Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1887-08-25
AN EXCITING EXPERIENCE IN
THE ARCTIC REGIONS.
How the Grcely Expedition Was
Saved From Starvation--A Story
Told by One of the
Survivors.

scarcely more than mentioned in the
accounts Of Starvation Camp. He says:
Bacon, shrimpS and sealskin stew, all
in small quantities, had been our fare
for over two weeks, and there was not
full round of rations left. More than
half of the men in camp were incapable
of work, but that was little matter, for
there was no more To do than three
could handle. The steady cold made
MS all drowSy, and there was the worse
danger in sleep. If man was allowed
to have his sleep ont he would certainly
never wake, SO we had to make y rule
that no one should sleep more than two
hours at time. 1t begarto look with
only one day between us and starva-
tion as il it might be better for us all
TO so to sleep together and die uncon-
Scious of the terrible cold and the pangs
of hunger. We had plenty of hunting,
fishing and cooking utensils, amunition
and all that, but what good were they !?
There was 20 game, no fish. During
all our camp we caught only two fish.
was the hunter of the party, and had
tramped the region over and over, and
rarely had the luck 10 get shot at any
thing.
The day before we came to our last
round of ratlons | had discovered the
tracks of bear. | followed them a.
bout until l was exhausted trying to
meet the beast, but had utterly failed.
On this day light snow fell in the
morning, just enough TO obscure the
trail, but still | hunted. | gave it up
late in the afternoon and returned to
camp. Brainerd had gone to the
shrimpiug ground, and was absent
when | lald by my gun. Suddenly he
appeared running down Cemetery
Ridge, as fast as his poor, weak legs
would bring him. We all started up
and waited his coming in the most
painful excitement. When he reached
the camp he fell TO the ground, all out
of breath. The men crawled to his as
Sistance and two of them raised his
head i'll their arms. He gasped and
looked at us wildly.
"Brainerd :" exclaimed the Lieuten
ant, what is it ?"
Bear, bear :" was all he could an
swer in a choking whisper.
Where, man,where ?" | cried reach
irg for my gun, all trembling and qulv-
ering with hope and fear.
There" he said, family, pointing
toward the ridge; she followed after
me he's coming"
How can | tell the terrible excite
ment that prevailed ? The men were
in perfect frenzy. Cruel suffering
had made them worse than unreason-
able. Some of them could think of
nothing but cursing poor Brainerd for
not killing the bear, and were with
difficulty restrained from falling upon
him to wreck vengeance. He had not
taken his gun with him--nobody eyer
did who went shrlmping-and they
cursed and raYed at that, and burst ill.,
to tears at the loss of their last chance
for life. Others, and they were the
weakest men in the party, were for
starting out at once for an all night
hunt over the snow fields and icebergs.
Nothing could be more foolhardy.
They couldn't have gone beyond the
top of the ridge without breaking down,
to say nothing of carrying gun and
firing accurately. The Lieutenant
used his authority and L my influence
to quiet the men, and at last the plan
of the hunt was arranged. 1t was
really only few minutes,bu it seemed
an hour. Jan, the Esquimeux, and l
started up the ridge to meet the bear If
he should continue toward US.
Hardly had we got rod from the
camp when long white nose appeared
oyer an ice-eovered rock at the top of
the hill. The men set up shout and l
think it unnerved me but it was a long
range shot-nearly three hundred yards
and the target was small. l raised
my gun and taking quick aim fired.
The ball missed, but it did not 60 wide
Of It's mark. The bear was startled.
He paused just too short time to give
the Esquimaux a chance at him, and
turned tail and ran. heard the howls
ard groans of disappointment behind
me. l believe that some of those pool,
half-starved, half-frozen men would
have shot at me in their anger if they
had had their guns on hand.
Jan" I said hastily, stake the
course to the left and go round the
ridge and keep well to the west, SO as
to get between the bear and the water.
l will go in the same way on the east. "
The faithful Esquimaux understood
the plan at once, and set out without
word. 1 crawled to the top of the ridge
as fast as l could and saw the bear
long way out of range still on the run.
He turned round for second and
looked back, and then, as if satisfied
that he was pursued, continued his
flight. didn't 60 straight after him,
but keeping out of his sight as much as
possible, crawled, and ran, and slid up
and down the icy slope, making all the
time for the water. was feverish with
fear. 1t seemed as if every possible OBJ
struction got in my way, and many
time fell to the ground. 1t was
terrible chase. May l never haye a.
mother like it.
1t seems incredible now, but actual
ly went ten miles out of my way to get
in front of that bear. knew that he
would stop running when he got over
his scare and saw nobody in pursuit,